Implementation of India’s largest sentinel surveillance for meningitis: an exploratory qualitative analysis of the facilitators and challenges in this sentinel site network

The successful implementation of this nationwide laboratory surveillance despite multiple challenges offers valuable lessons for future initiatives. A decentralized sentinel laboratory network with integrated data management and strong central coordination is crucial for effective monitoring. Based on this experience, establishing similar surveillance systems is recommended for countries to track circulating pneumococcal serotypes and support evidence-based vaccine decisions.